Case Studies

Our role: Bracken Hill House is located within a mature grade II listed historic garden. ecosulis ltd was commissioned to manage all ecological work at site and has been undertaking surveys and completing assessments since 2005. The initial Phase 1 habitat survey indicated that suitable habitat for bats, nesting and foraging birds, great crested newts, reptiles and invertebrates was present. Further Phase 2 surveys were conducted by ecosulis ltd, which identified a small population of slow worm and bat roosts. At least six species of bats were recorded roosting in the main building, with a maternity and hibernation colony of lesser horseshoe bats, an occasional hibernation roost for brown long-eared, and an occasional summer roost for common pipistrelle, greater horseshoe, soprano pipistrelle and a Myotis species. The outbuilding also supported a night feeding roost for lesser horseshoe and brown long-eared bats. Following these findings, mitigation proposals were drafted to protect reptiles, nesting birds and other ecological components on site.

ecosulis ltd has been retained during the construction phase of the project to manage the ecological mitigation works, including installation of bat roosts and even an internal flyway connecting the attic with basements (bats were previously known to fly through the corridors of the building). All ecological works have been successfully completed and ecosulis ltd will be undertaking long term monitoring of the roost sites to ensure success of mitigation.